Record Turnout for McLean Board Election

By Bobbi Bowman, The McLean Ear

Kevin Dent

Jay Howell

MCLEAN, VA – A record number of McLean residents voted Saturday to elect more than half the members of the McLean Community Center (MCC) board. Incumbent Kevin Dent, and newcomers Jay Howell and Robin Walker were elected to three-year terms and Craig Richardson to a two-year term.

McLean Day Closes After Day of Family Fun

Leaving McLean Day

5 p.m. People only allowed to leave not enter. Police report no incidences. Perfect day for family fun. Election results from McLean Community Center race should be available later in the evening.

3:30 p.m. Traffic moving but bumper-to-bumper on Chain Bridge Road between Westmoreland and Great Falls — about three-quarters of a mile. Fairfax police doing a great job of keeping traffic moving on Chain Bridge in front of Lewinsville Park.

Voter’s Guide for Saturday’s McLean Election

MCLEAN, VA -McLean residents vote Saturday  for McLean’s only elected board. We will elect more than half the  members of the 11-member McLean Community Center board.

Why we care: This board controls $17 million,  much of it our  property tax dollars. Board members are now trying to decide whether to spend our money to build a gymnasium near the Spring Hill Recreation Center  on Lewinsville Road, or a new community center in downtown McLean that could spur that long-delayed redevelopment. The McLean Community Center owns the Teen Center located in the Old Firehouse. They want to demolish the Teen Center and replace it with a community building that could include meeting rooms and a black box theater, a simple unadorned performance space that can host a variety of events. What would happen to the Teen Center is unclear.

Here are frequently asked questions about the election and the list of candidates.

McLean Day Survival Guide for Our Neighbors and Guests

MCLEAN, VA -Here’s a guide to help both our neighbors and our guests survive this day when thousands visit our  small town. Last year, approximately 14,000 people attended.

What: McLean Day features carnival rides large and small, activities for children such as pony rides and face-painting, great music and terrific food!

Family concerns Lead to McLean Community Center Resignation

Julie Rasmussen

MCLEAN, VA – Julie Rasmussen, executive director of the McLean Community Center, said Thursday  afternoon that increasing family responsibilities led her to resign her high-paying post.

She gave the board no advance warning before her public announcement Wednesday night, she said, because, “Several board members were aware of the family situation.  I thought it most appropriate to try to tell everyone of my decision at one time, so the full monthly board meeting seemed the logical choice. ”

At that meeting, Rasmussen gave no reason for the surprise resignation from her $115,000- a-year post. David Sanders, the board chair,  adjourned the meeting. The board then met with Rasmussen in executive session.

It is highly unusual for an executive director to announce their resignation in public and surprise their board.

“I knew that Julie had been going through some family issues. I did not know that it had reached the point that she wanted to resign,” Sanders said Thursday morning. “Family always comes first.”

Some board members have been critical of the staff that Rasmussen directs at recent board and committee meetings. They have raised questions about filling positions,  why the recent center catalog was late, and why minutes were not given to members before meetings.